Senior Editor, Clarkson Potter

$78,000 - $85,000/Yr

Penguin Random House - New York, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Remote - New York, NY

Educational Services

About the position

Clarkson Potter, an imprint of The Crown Publishing Group, is seeking a Senior Editor to join our esteemed cookbook team. This role is pivotal for candidates who possess a deep passion for culinary literature and a proven track record in identifying and developing high-quality culinary projects that resonate both commercially and culturally. As a Senior Editor, you will be responsible for acquiring, editing, and managing a portfolio of 10 to 12 cookbooks annually, working closely with some of the most celebrated culinary authors in the industry, including Ina Garten and Melissa Clark. In this collaborative environment, you will engage with various departments such as design, production, marketing, and publicity to ensure that each project is executed to the highest standards. Your role will involve prospecting new authors and trends, evaluating book proposals, and building compelling commercial and cultural cases for acquisition. You will also negotiate and manage relationships with agents, ensuring that the authors' visions are fully realized throughout the acquisition and production processes. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, with a keen interest in cookbook publishing. You will be expected to develop a diverse list that reflects the richness of our potential audiences and society. This position requires strong communication skills, a solid understanding of culinary processes, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines. We encourage you to apply through our ATS system by August 15, 2024, and include your resume, cover letter, and acquisition list if applicable. Before applying, please review our applicant resources and remote work guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Acquiring 10 to 12 cookbooks per year, identifying trends and impactful stories with a strong potential for reaching a wide audience.
• Recruiting and attracting best-in-class authors and creatives.
• Evaluating book proposals and building the commercial and cultural cases for their acquisition, including creating and managing profit and loss statements.
• Negotiating and managing relationships with agents.
• Engaging and partnering with authors to fully realize their vision, collaborating throughout the acquisition and production processes.
• Developing, editing, and finalizing manuscripts.
• Collaborating across departments, including design, production editorial, production, marketing, publicity, and sales teams.
• Representing the publisher, design, and production teams when working with the author, and representing the author when working with our publisher, design, and production teams.

Requirements

• 5 to 7 years of editorial experience working on complex, full-color cookbooks or other content-rich food media spaces.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong understanding of culinary processes and methods, including direct experience in recipe editing or writing.
• In-depth understanding of the acquiring process, and a strong record of acquisitions or assignments.
• Direct experience taking multiple concurrent projects from conception to completion.
• A strong record of meeting deadlines with effective organization and prioritization skills.
• Diplomacy and sensitivity in handling delicate conversations within a collaborative environment.
• Extensive team coordination and project management experience (including collaborations with designers, photographers, and writers/authors).
• Desire and willingness to collaborate in person in our New York office as much as possible.

Benefits

• Medical/Prescription drug insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Health Savings Account
• Pre-Tax and Roth 401(k)
• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life/AD&D Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Student Loan Repayment Program
• Educational Assistance
• Generous paid time off